Sitok: 'There are poems within me'

By Sirikit Syah

SURABAYA (JP): "There are poems within me. They are just there. I don't need to search for them anywhere else." Sitok Srengenge will always give this reply when asked about his creative process. You would think it is just a poet's slogan, until you listen to him reciting his poems. He is among the very few poets who memorize all their poems.

"When I performed in The Hague last year, I left the stage and approached the audience -- that's the way I do it -- with no paper or book in my hands. They must have thought I had forgotten my text. I didn't. I didn't read my poems, I recited them," he said recently. And he impressed the audience.

He was invited to participate in another cultural event, De Winternacht Event, which also took place last year. Although he was scheduled for only one performance, he ended up giving an additional one. He was in high demand. This year, he has been invited again by the same committee and will perform in The Hague in early February, during the Idul Fitri holiday.

Memorizing and reciting his poems is his mark of distinction from other young Indonesian poets. He also never writes down his poems until they are completed in his mind. "I know some poets who are so enthusiastic to write a poem when they just hear or find a good word or good phrase. They will then force themselves to sit down in front of a blank piece of paper and compose a poem out of that triggering word or phrase. In my opinion, they will write nonsense that way," Sitok said.

He admits that he is not very productive. In one year, he might produce only two poems. "I compose poems in my head. Once a poem is complete, it doesn't matter anymore whether I write it down on paper or not. It's already here," he said, pointing to his head.

Sitok's lyrics are beautifully crafted. They are rhythmic and yet meaningful. Some words might even have vast and deep meanings, open to many possibilities of interpretation, enjoyment and enrichment to their readers. The man with long wavy black hair, sharp eyes and a handsome smile also writes short stories. His short stories published in Para Pembohong (The Liars) have distinguished themes, and are written in an unusual style.

A noted Indonesian short story writer, Danarto, once commented that Sitok's writing is "a new style of expression".

Sitok also gives public readings of short stories. Last October, he read a short story by Ray Rizal at Graha Bhakti Budaya at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Jakarta with five other readers, including the story writer, Rizal, and noted actress Ratna Sarumpaet. A review in Femina magazine reads: "Sitok Srengenge was very dynamic. He acted, mimed and improvised, which left the audience mesmerized."

Sitok has been acting onstage since his school days in Semarang, Central Java. He continued to showcase his acting talents as a member of W.S. Rendra's Bengkel Theater for about 10 years. His last collaborations were with Ikranagara (Jam Berapa Sekarang? -- What Time is It?) and Ratna Sarumpaet (Pesta Terakhir -- The Last Party), both performed in celebration of Taman Ismail Marzuki's anniversary last November. On Rendra, he said: "My relationship with Mas Willy (Rendra) is not merely a teacher-student relationship. For me, it's more like father and son."

Because of his long stay and study with Rendra, some critics comment that he is influenced by Rendra, the way he writes and performs. Surprisingly, when asked about this, he didn't look offended or upset at all. "I lived with him and learned from him. What do you expect? To deny being influenced by that great man would be a lie."

However, a prominent Indonesian poet, Soetardji Calzoum Bachri, spoke differently about him, "He has an authentic style. He is very talented and has a good future."

Sitok was born in Purwodadi, Central Java in 1965. He was born to be different. When people in his village didn't understand the point of attending schools, he went to school and read all the books at the school library. When told there was no finance for his education, he received a scholarship that took him through elementary school and high school. "I've never had aims or targets. I just want to be different," he said. So, when he finished his studies at the Jakarta-based Teacher Training Institute's Faculty of Art and Literature, he didn't apply for a job as people usually did. He has never been an employee. His ID card says his profession is simply a poet. He is very serious about being a poet. His work involves reading, learning, traveling and meeting and talking with people.

Was it just for the sake of being different that he published his books titled Persetubuhan Liar (Wild Intercourse) and Anak Jadah (Bastard), during the era of Sufism, followed by a majority of Indonesian poets in the 1980s? "Yes," he said convincingly. But of course, there were stories and ideas in those erotic poems he wrote during those years. Stories which he might not want to expose.

The success of Festival Istiqlal 1995, especially the literary section, was further evidence of his professionalism. With his colleagues at the committee, he succeeded in publishing an anthology of poetry by Moslem poets taking part in the Istiqlal International Poetry Reading 1995, called The Poets' Chant. Recently, in the last week of December, he also held a cultural camp, a jamboree for poets coming from all over the country, in Banten, West Java.

Another of his qualities is that he cares about others. He motivates, encourages and supports uncountable young writers who initially had no confidence. Through his organization, Gorong- Gorong Budaya, he publishes some significant books by young writers, like Para pembohong (The Liars -- a short story anthology) Anjing Penjaga, Pers di Rumah Orde Baru (Watchdog, the Press Inside the New Order's House -- a fictionalized documentary) and Di Tengah Konspirasi Ketakutan (In a Conspiracy of Fear -- a documentary). Right now, he is preparing his new cooperation network, called Masyarakat Puisi yang Bertahan (Survived Poetry Society).

Harry Aveling, an Australian critic of Indonesian literature, writes that Sitok Srengenge is one of Indonesia's vibrant young poets.

As the father of Laire Siwi Mentary, 8, and the husband of Farah Maulida, Sitok certainly has a way to go. Sometimes, he said, he feels too sure of himself and is full of self- confidence. Yet at times, he said: "I don't know where to go from here."

Here is one example of his poems, composed in 1991, translated by Margaret Agusta:

At first I thought you were a wave/ but each time I dive in to swim/you would spin up a wind storm/ The sweat troubles me and my restless soul and body/ becomes a prayer of unstained Love/ There, I find comfort in your breeze/just before you blow away/ I hunt the voice of the flute in the distance/ where I find the rustling leaves/

I am dazed by the illusion of your moves/ as silent as the stone within my longing/ Now I know, there is no need to chase you/ You live within and outside of me/ there is no distance, yet you are so far/ so close, yet not touching

If it is true you are the wind/ I desire to breathe you in/ Deep within the heart that beats/ you are the new spirit of life/ Flow within my blood, flow/ within the pulse of my Love/ because of you, my Love!